November 7 issue of Flight School Business
| VOL. 13-ISSUE 23-November 7, 2023 |
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TRAINING TRENDS
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| One airplane, two fuels |
| To learn about the real-world performance of unleaded aviation fuels, AOPA will measure them against leaded avgas in a twin-engine airplane. The unleaded fuel will go in the left wing and feed the left engine of a Beechcraft Baron. Leaded avgas will go in the right wing and feed the right engine. The demonstration began October 31 in Ada, Oklahoma. READ MORE › |
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NEWS
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| Whitaker confirmed as new FAA administrator |
| The Senate confirmed Michael Whitaker to be the next FAA administrator on October 24. The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Whitaker, who will serve a five-year term that ends in 2028. AOPA President Mark Baker called Whitaker a "capable leader who knows aviation, knows the agency, and he's a private pilot." READ MORE ›
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| Student pilot arrested for aircraft vandalism in Florida |
| Sumebh Singh, a student pilot at Treasure Coast Flight Training in Stuart, Florida, was arrested October 23 and charged with multiple counts of vandalism. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told WPBF.com that the student pilot arrived at the flight school expecting to solo. When he was told he wasn't ready, he became angry and left the building. Security video footage showed Singh entering airplanes shortly thereafter. No details about the nature of the vandalism were given. Singh could face additional state and federal charges. |
| Few preliminary clues in fatal Lake Placid accident |
| The NTSB has issued a preliminary report on the October 1 crash in Lake Placid, New York, that killed AOPA Air Safety Institute leader Richard McSpadden and former NFL champion Russ Francis. A witness told investigators that the Cessna Cardinal involved in the accident sounded abnormal on takeoff, and during the initial climb it did not sound as if it was running at full power. However, investigators found no significant evidence related to the fuel system, ignition system, or oil. READ MORE › |
| Van's Aircraft reports cash crunch |
| Van's Aircraft is facing severe cash flow issues that must be addressed for ongoing operation, according to an announcement from company founder Richard VanGrunsven. The company said it will be conducting an internal two-week assessment that will spell out the next steps. It's expected that one of these steps will be to increase the price of aircraft kits. READ MORE › |
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POLL
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| Fleet vandalism |
| A student pilot in Florida allegedly vandalized airplanes at his flight school after being told he wasn't ready to take his first solo. Has your flight school aircraft ever been vandalized? Tell us in this week's poll. |
| Results |
| In the October 24, 2023, issue, we wanted to know whether your flight school offers helicopter training. Here are the results.
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MARKETING
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| Supercharge your marketing with AI |
| Not just another technology fad, artificial intelligence could radically change the way you communicate with your flight school's customers, manage your finances, keep abreast of industry changes, and use data to make important decisions. William Woodbury explains how chatbots and other AI functions are going to become the GPS of marketing for aviation. READ MORE > |
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QUICK TIP
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| What are some challenges associated with expanding your business? In this video from AOPA's You Can Fly, Amanda Aldea, co-owner and flight school administrator of Carolina Sky Flight Training, discusses finding the right staff for your new location and the importance of developing a good relationship with the airport manager. View the video here. |
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SAFETY
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| Real Pilot Story: 'The Heat of the Moment' |
| A newly engaged couple took off in a Cessna 170 from Byrds Backcountry Airstrip located 13 miles north-northeast of Ozark, Arkansas. Density altitude was high that afternoon at the grass airstrip. About three-quarters down the short runway, just as the pilot was about to abort the takeoff, the airplane lifted off and began a shallow climb. However, the Cessna 170 would not clear the tree line. Find out what happened from the pilots and a witness in the latest installment of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Real Pilot Stories series. View the video here. |
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